Rio Ferdinand names three clubs Jack Grealish should join after Man City exit
Rio Ferdinand has told Jack Grealish to join a club outside the Premier League amid growing transfer interest in the Manchester City outcast.
Grealish's time at the Etihad is all but over after Pep Guardiola left him out of the squad for the Club World Cup.
The attacking midfielder struggled for game time last season, notably getting left on the bench in the FA Cup final defeat before being axed entirely for the final Premier League game of the campaign.
With a place in England's 2026 World Cup squad at risk, he is hoping to secure a transfer soon with City setting his price tag at £40million – less than half what they paid for him four years ago.
'I would advise Jack Grealish to play where he will be happy,' Manchester United legend Ferdinand said during a Q&A on his YouTube channel.
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'He needs to find happiness with himself playing football but also within a team. I don't think any players are happy when they're not playing, especially the player that's used to being the star man in their team since he was a kid.
'He'd have been star man so to think that he's now not even being considered for big moments and big games… he needs to go where he's going to play and he's going to find happiness.
'Because at the end of your career, yes you do want trophies, but at the same time you want to be happy doing that, you want to feel a part of it. I want to see that smile and that swagger and that enjoyment factor when he plays football again and I don't think we've seen it for a while.'
Tottenham are the favourites to land the 29-year-old while a return to boyhood club Aston Villa has also been mooted, but Ferdinand thinks a move abroad would be best, naming three possible destinations.
'Villa would be great for him but if they don't sell anyone where does he fit in? Unless they get rid of Marcus Rashford but then Morgan Rogers plays out there as well.
Appearances: 32
Starts: 16
Goals: 3
Assists: 5
Yellow cards: 5
'I would like to see it where he gets a bit of a free role. If there's a team out there that can afford to play a structure where he goes back to that almost like a No.10 or one of the eight positions that's allowed to just roam a bit.
'That's what I would do with Jack Grealish because I think if you play him more centrally and you just give him a bit of freedom, like we saw when he was at Villa, the kid can unlock.
'If I'm him, you know where I'd go? Saudi. If I'm Jack Grealish I'm going Saudi, I'm getting my feet in the sand.
Tottenham, Napoli – 9/4
Nottingham Forest, Everton – 4/1
Aston Villa – 5/1
Newcastle – 7/1
AC Milan, Inter Milan – 12/1
Any Saudi Pro League – 14/1
Odds courtesy of Betfair
'I'd love to see him in Napoli, that atmosphere. Marseille with Roberto de Zerbi, where I know the fans will love him.' More Trending
While the Saudi Pro League or Marseille would be a surprise move, Napoli are one of the favourites for Grealish's signature, with Antonio Conte after a new left-sided attacker.
The Serie A champions have also been linked with Manchester United outcast wingers Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho.
And a move from the Premier League to Napoli may well appeal to Grealish after seeing how well Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku performed for them last season.
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MORE: Darwin Nunez approves transfer to next club but Liverpool set 'difficult' asking price
MORE: Pep Guardiola gives Rayan Cherki verdict after 'embarrassing' Man City debut
MORE: Rio Ferdinand claims £64m striker is 'waiting' for Man Utd transfer offer
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